SB 1004 — Domestic Animals

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 FirstBy Engrossedthe 20261004e1Committee Aon billRules; to be entitled An act relating to domestic animals;

and Senators Gaetz and Arrington 595-02676-26 20261004c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to domestic animals;

requiring a specified mandatory waiting period between the purchase and receipt of an animal if the transaction is financed by the consumer;

prohibiting a consumer from signing a financing agreement until the conclusion of the specified waiting period;

authorizing the consumer to initiate an action in certain courts for any contestation of veterinary expensesPage or1 demands of the10 petCODING: dealer for a refund or exchange;

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 595-02676-26 20261004c1 expenses or demands of the pet dealer for a refund or exchange;

Pagerequiring 1a pet dealer to retain a copy of 10a CODING:specified notice for a specified period;

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

CS for SB 1004 First Engrossed 20261004e1 requiring a pet dealer to retain a copy of a specified notice for a specified period;

requiring the Department of BusinessAgriculture and ProfessionalConsumer RegulationServices to develop a list of best management practices for adoption and implementation;

specifyingproviding requirements for such best management practices;

828.12 Cruelty to animals.— (7) By Beginning January 1, 2027 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names and any aliases, the date of birth, the race, the counties of conviction, the charges, the case numbers, the dispositions, the description of Page 2 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 First595-02676-26 Engrossed20261004c1 20261004e1(7) By Beginning January 1, 2027 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names and any aliases, the date of birth, the race, the counties of conviction, the charges, the case numbers, the dispositions, the description of any identifying marks and tattoos, and a photograph taken at the time of booking related to the animal cruelty offense of each individual those individuals who has have been convicted of, or who has have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of this section.

or if, within 1 year after following the sale of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies such animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital or hereditary disorder which adversely affects the health of the animal;Page 3 of 10 CODING:

or if, within 1 year after following the sale of an animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:

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CSFlorida forSenate SB- 10042026 FirstCS Engrossed 20261004e1 (a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including any interest accrued and the sales tax or fees paid or due from the purchaser, and reimbursement for reasonableSB veterinary1004 costs595-02676-26 directly20261004c1 relatedanimal; to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the animal dog or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section or and directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve the suffering of such animal.

or if, within 1 year after following the sale of an animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:

(a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including any interest accrued and the sales tax or fees paid or due from the purchaser, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the animal dog or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section or and directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve the suffering of such animal.

or (c) The right to retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs for necessary services and treatment related to the attempt to cure or curing of the animal, or necessary emergency services or treatment undertakenPage to4 relieve the suffering of such10 animalCODING: received within 1 year after purchase dog or cat.

Reimbursement for veterinary costs may not exceed the purchase price of the animal.

The cost of veterinary services is Page 4 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 First595-02676-26 Engrossed20261004c1 20261004e1undertaken reasonable if comparable to relieve the costsuffering of similarsuch servicesanimal renderedreceived bywithin other1 licensedyear veterinariansafter inpurchase proximitydog toor thecat. treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate for the certification by the veterinarian.

(6)Reimbursement Allfor financingveterinary termscosts mustmay benot disclosedexceed by the petpurchase dealerprice to the consumer before the sale of the animalanimal. A consumer may sign a waiver relinquishing his or her right to return the dog or cat for congenital or hereditary disorders.

The cost of veterinary services is reasonable if comparable to the cost of similar services rendered by other licensed veterinarians in proximity to the treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate for the certification by the veterinarian.

(6) All financing terms must be disclosed by the pet dealer to the consumer before the sale of the animal.

A mandatory waiting period of at least 3 calendar days must be imposed between the date of an agreement to purchase an animal and the date on which the consumer takes possession of the animal, if the consumer is financing the animal.

The consumer may not sign a financing agreement until the conclusion of the 3-day waiting period A consumer may sign a waiver relinquishing his or her right to return the dog or cat for congenital or hereditary disorders.

or (b)Page The5 right to return the animal and receive an exchange dog or cat of the10 consumer’sCODING: choice of equivalent value, but not a refund of the veterinary costs related to the certification that the dog or cat is unfit.

(7) Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide to the consumer copies of records of all medical examinations or tests that were conducted on the animal or any medication given before the purchase of the animal.

A pet dealer may specifically state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in Page 5 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 First595-02676-26 Engrossed20261004c1 20261004e1(b) whichThe case the consumer has no right to anyreturn refundthe oranimal exchangeand forreceive thosean identifiedexchange disorders,dog ifor suchcat consumerof signsthe aconsumer’s notificationchoice thatof indicatesequivalent thatvalue, thebut animalnot hasa beenrefund examinedof bythe aveterinary veterinariancosts whorelated determinedto that the animalcertification hasthat the identifieddog congenital or hereditarycat disorder.is unfit.

(7) Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide to the consumer copies of records of all medical examinations or tests that were conducted on the animal or any medication given before the purchase of the animal.

A pet dealer may specifically state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in which case the consumer has no right to any refund or exchange for those identified disorders, if such consumer signs a notification that indicates that the animal has been examined by a veterinarian who determined that the animal has the identified congenital or hereditary disorder.

Upon such examination, if the consumer andPage the6 dealer are unable to reach an agreement that constitutes one of the options set forth in subsection (5) or subsection (6) within 10 businessCODING: days after following receipt of the animal for such examination, the consumer may initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction, or the county court small claims court division, in the county where the animal owner resides, to recover or obtain reimbursement of veterinary expenses and a, refund, or exchange, as set forth in subsection (5), and may collect punitive damages in an amount not less than $2,500 at the discretion of the court.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1004 First595-02676-26 Engrossed20261004c1 20261004e1and (12)the Everydealer petare dealerunable whoto sellsreach an animalagreement tothat aconstitutes consumerone mustof providethe options set forth in subsection (5) or subsection (6) within 10 business days after following receipt of the consumeranimal atfor such examination, the timeconsumer ofmay saleinitiate withan action in a printed,court writtenof noticecompetent jurisdiction, or the county court small claims court division, in 14-pointthe boldfacecounty typewhere the animal owner resides, to berecover signedor byobtain thereimbursement consumer,of printedveterinary expenses and a, refund, or typed,exchange, whichas isset separateforth fromin thesubsection contract(5), and readsmay ascollect follows:punitive damages in an amount not less than $2,500 at the discretion of the court.